There are so many rules and regulations to get your head around when learning to play golf. Not only that but there are countless terms to try and understand. If you’re a newbie to the game of golf, you’re probably a little confused when it comes to many aspects of the sport.
One part of golf that many find challenging to understand is what a good golf score is. Golf is a game of fine margins, so you can quickly go from a good score to a bad score with just a few mistakes. Of course, this is what makes golf what it is.
One moment, you’re playing with flare and the hole seems to have a magnet attached to the ball. The next thing you know, you’re in the bunker and you never want to play golf again.
The more you play golf, the more you’ll understand that there are ups and downs that come with playing it. And, after a while, you’ll come to understand that a good or bad round is only related to your handicap.
So, the question remains – what is a good golf score? In today’s article, we are going to guide you through what good and bad golf scores really are and what determines this. We will also talk you through what scores you should aim for to enjoy a successful round of golf.
What Is A Handicap?
To begin, you will need to understand some golfing terminology. To understand what a good golf score is, you must first understand the handicap system.
In golf, each player has a handicap. This is in place to help even up a golfer’s game and golf as a whole. For instance, if you have a 20 handicap and play on a Par 72 and shoot 92, you have essentially shot even par.
So, since you have a 20 handicap and shot over 20 for that round of golf (92 instead of 72), you have played to your handicap. Another example would be if you had a handicap of 10 and shot 82 on a par 72, you would have shot par.
During Stableford rounds, your handicap can also work in your favor. If you have a higher handicap, you will earn more points when making par or birdie compared with golfers who have a lower handicap.
Here’s an example – a player is playing with a 13 handicap against another who has a handicap of 6. Both players par the stroke 13. However, this is where it favors the higher handicap. The player with a handicap of 13 will earn three points, whereas their opponent will only receive two points.
The handicap system allows golfers to understand where they fit in the spectrum of players. The lower your handicap, the better player you are considered to be.
This is why it can be a little challenging when determining what a good or bad golf score is. For instance, if a player with a 6 handicap shoots 85 on a Par 72 round, they would consider this a bad day. But, if a player with a 20 handicap shoots an 85 on a Par 72, they would score -7 and consider it a successful round.
What Is Stableford Scoring?
On a golf course, every hole has a stroke rating ranging from one to 18. These numbers determine how difficult each hole is on that specific course.
In most cases, strike 18 is typically the easiest hole, whilst stroke one is the most challenging.
These holes also help to even out the playing field for participants, depending on their handicap. For scratch golfers, it is not possible to stroke any holes on the golf course. Because of this, they will get two points for a par, three points for a birdie, and a single point for a bogey.
Players who have a 54 handicap can achieve a triple stroke for every hole. Therefore, they can receive five points for a par, four points for a bogey, three for a double bogey, and a couple of points for a triple bogey.
For golfers with a handicap that is under 18, it is only possible to strike an equal number of holes as their handicap. So, if a player is playing off a 16, they will stroke each hole with a rating ranging from one to 16. But, they will not stroke on the 17th or 18th most difficult holes.
Terminology Of Golf Score
If you’re a golfing novice, you may be unfamiliar with some of the terms mentioned in today’s article. To help you understand further, below are some common golfing terms associated with golf scoring.
- Hole in One – The ball goes straight into the hole from the tee shot.
- Albatross (see also: What Is An Albatross In Golf?)- Achieving a score of -3 of the par on a hole.
- Eagle – Scoring -4 the par on a hole.
- Birdie – Scoring -1 the par score on a hole.
- Par – The same score as the par for a hole.
- Bogey – Scoring +1 the par on a hole.
- Double Bogey – Scoring +2 the par on a hole.
- Triple Bogey – Also known as a Grouse, this is a +3 score on a hole.
- Quintuple Bogey – Known as a Turkey, this is a +4 score on a hole.
- Sextuple Bogey – A score of +6.
- Septuple Bogey – A score of +7.
- Octuple Bogey – A score of +8.
In Summary – What Is A Good Golf Score?
This season, the scoring average on the PGA Tour for all 18 holes has been 71.46. As most courses are Par 72, the average golfer is shooting between even par and -1 for each round. So, a good score is anything from -2 to -5.
Depending on the handicap and round, this final score could be eye-watering for some players. But, by subtracting the handicap from the Gross, a net score can be found, allowing you to see how you performed in relation to the total part of the course.
A good golf score is determined by your handicap. So, always keep this in mind before jumping for joy or feeling demoralized after a round of golf.
Hi, my name is Garratt Shmidt and I have been playing golf in my spare time for almost a decade.
Before I found a passion for golf, I didn’t see the appeal. I thought it was slow, repetitive, and quite frankly boring.
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